if you like me for a father-in-law, without farther ceremony here’s my hand,—and done’s the word. This close way of doing business, says Sable, I found disconcerted my martial conductor, who evaded closing with the proposal, saying such a thing as marriage, required a little more consideration than a bet at a cock-match or a horse-race.—Why look you, Sir, says Mr. Sirloin, this is my way of doing business; if I see a bullock in the market, which I think is for my purpose, I go and examine him, and if I find that he’ll do, I enquire his price, and if its about the mark, I bid money for him, and if my money is accepted, I have the beast; but if not, we part, and there’s no harm done, you know; now apply that, Sir.—Well, Sir, returned the captain, to make a matter of trade of this affair, as I profess a regard for your daughter, if you will give me a fortune with her I will marry her, notwithstanding the disgrace it will be to my family.—Fortune, Sir! says Mr. Sirloin, what fortune do you expect me to give? I suppose, Sir, says the captain, you intend to give her a fortune equal to her education and appearance in the world.—As for her education and appearance in the world, says Mr. Sirloin, I have told you how that came about, and that it was not my fault, and now I’ll tell you what I’ll give you with her: I’ll spend a few guineas in a wedding dinner with all my heart; but as for fortune, I assure you I have none to give.—You certainly are in jest, Sir, says the captain, as you have educated and drest your daughter in the character of a lady of fortune. Zounds, Sir, says Mr. Sirloin, I tell you my wife has had the whole management of her, and that it is not my fault.—This very thing, adds he, have I told my wife over and over: for, says I, what tradesman do you think will have her, as she will to be sure expect to live in the manner she has been brought up, and if she does not, says I, then she will be unhappy; and what tradesman is there, says I, that can afford, or if he could, wou’d think it proper, to keep her like a lady? and what gentleman, says I, will take a butcher’s daughter without a farthing, only because the girl, says I, has a notion of dress and politeness, as they call it? so that, says I, the girl will be brought up to be fit for nothing, and in the end, says I, turn whore; but it signified nothing; for my wife said her daughter should be brought up and drest as well as Mr. Spigot, the ale-house-man’s daughter, who was no better than she was, and that something might happen.